I glanced at the clock on the lower right side of my work computer screen. It was five and time to go. Determined to tell Brian the truth, I’d told him to meet me at my desk after work, so we could walk to my apartment together.

“Hey you, ready to go?” Brian dropped his laptop bag at the foot of my chair. “I’m hungry. Let’s grab some dinner.”

“Two seconds. Let me shut my computer down.” I shifted to power off my computer and turned to Caroline shuffling back to her desk.

She had just come back from a customer call.

“Hey, how was your call?” I put my laptop into my bag as she flashed me a smile.

“Boring as always, but I did hear some gossip.” Her eyes widened as she placed her hands on her hips. “Bethany Casse, have you been holding out on us?” she asked. “Are you dating the hot Kent Plack of Plack Industries?”

Her eyes lit up with excitement while I rapidly blinked at her, not believing what had just left her mouth. My head flipped to Brian to see his cheerful mood drop. His mouth was set in a straight line.

“Uh…no…I don’t know. Where did you hear that?” I said, pulling at the strands of brown hair on my shoulder.

I felt myself get warm all over. Beads of sweat formed at the back of my neck as the shock of an upcoming train wreck hit me full force. It wasn’t supposed to come out like this. He was supposed to hear it from me.

Brian grabbed his bag and turned to stomp toward the door and I followed right behind him.

“What’s his problem?” Caroline asked, glancing in Brian’s direction.

“Customer deal gone bad,” I said over my shoulder, moving faster to catch him. “See you tomorrow, Caroline.”

He faced the elevator, waiting for it to open, as my eyes studied the back of his striped shirt, noticing the thin vertical white lines contrasting with the blue. I squeezed my palms together, cutting off the circulation, as I waited for him to speak.

“I’ve been played before. Honestly, I’ve done some of the playing, but I didn’t see the signs on this one,” he said, still facing the elevator.

“It’s not like that. I promise you, it’s not what it looks like.”

I reached for his arm, but he shrugged it off.

“If you’ll just let me, I can tell you the truth. Please,” I begged as I shifted to stare at his side profile.

“Now I know why you didn’t want anyone at work to know that we were together.” He turned to face me. “Fine, tell me the truth. Are you dating Kent Plack?”

Am I? It’s not real. It’s just a contractual agreement. “No, I’m not dating him,” I told him.

He squinted at me as the elevator door opened. “I don’t believe you.”

My heart dropped at his words. He walked in, and I stepped inside right behind him. “You have to believe me because it’s the truth. I’m not really dating him. It’s all for show. It’s not real. I’m dating you and only you, no one else.” I looked to him for understanding, but what I’d said didn’t even make any sense.

His face showed no emotion, and I knew he still didn’t believe me. The look in his eyes told me he didn’t want to know anything further. If he walked away when the elevator opened on the first floor, I knew I’d never get a chance to tell him my side of the story. Then, I would always wonder about the what-ifs between us. I watched the numbers decrease with our descent, and I made an impulse decision. I lunged myself toward him, hugging him with my head on his chest.

“Please, please, please believe me. It’s only you. I wouldn’t play you or anyone else for that matter. Give me a chance to explain. Please,” I begged. Squeezing my eyes tightly, I was hoping he wouldn’t push me away.

He didn’t.

After a second, I felt his body loosen in my embrace. The doors opened, and I released him. I met his eyes, and his face turned serious.

“Fine. Explain.”

Sitting in a small pizza joint, I stared at the sugar in front of me. Brian had ordered us drinks, not dinner, which didn’t look very promising on my end.

Not making eye contact gave me more strength to get the story out right away. In the end, I couldn’t tell him the truth. I just couldn’t tell him about my pathetic childhood. I didn’t want to delve into my deadbeat mother who had put me into this mess. Maybe I wanted to seem like I had it together, that my life had been just like his while growing up. I didn’t want him to look at me any differently. I wanted him to see me—the girl I was today, not the circumstances that had gotten me here. I decided to tell him as much of the truth that I felt comfortable with.

“I’m a victim of identity theft,” I said, reaching for the pepper shaker. “Someone used my social security number to rack up debt in my name.” I stole a glance as he observed me, and my eyes dropped again to the pepper shaker on the table. “I’ve tried to contest it, but it’s going to cost me money that I don’t have. In the end, I’m in a lot of debt, but it’s not my fault.” I exhaled a heavy sigh. “It’s not like I can tell you these things when we just started dating.” I said, peeking up at him.

Brian’s face turned sympathetic. “I wish you felt like you could tell me anything.”

I didn’t want his pity. Moving to this big city, starting over, and meeting this great guy were the most normal things that had ever happened to me. My life was just beginning to fall into place.

“I know. It’s just that we’re not there yet, Brian. We’re in the new, exciting stage of dating. I’m supposed to wait to dump this stuff on you in stage two of the dating phase,” I said, meeting his eyes. “Plus, I don’t tell everyone my problems. The only people who know are Kendy, Kent, and now, you.”

Brian’s face blanched at the mention of Kent.

“Now, on to how Kent is involved…” I looked to my entwined hands gripping the pepper shaker. Get this all out and then be done. “He’s going to help me with my debt problem, and in return, I’m helping him.”

I dared to glance up to gauge his reaction, but he gave none.

“His parents want him to get married or else they will take away his trust fund. I’ve agreed to marry him—on paper only—so he can access his money. Then, after a month, we’ll get divorced, and he’ll pay off all my debt,” I revealed, releasing everything in one breath. There, it’s all out.

I tilted my head to look at Brian.

“That’s crazy,” he said incredulously. “Don’t do it.”

I let out a long sigh, thinking of everything I’d overcome to get here. “I know you’ve lived a normal, stress-free life, but you have no idea what I’ve been through or what I’m going through right now. Every day, I have creditors calling me. The worst part of this all is that none of this is my fault. I didn’t cause this, but I’m the one suffering.

“I’ve done all I can to get myself far from Bowlesville. I’ve worked so hard at random jobs through college to get here and into One Financial. I really do make good money for a new graduate, but it’s not enough. I will move up and make more money. I know I will. I’m determined to, but that’s going to take time.”

“I don’t want to lose you over this, but right now, Kent is giving me an out, and I’m taking it,” I said in finality.

“Does he want more from you?” Brian asked.

“No, I told you, it’s not like that.” I shook my head. “This is only an arrangement, a one-month arrangement. It’s purely platonic.”

Of course Brian would be jealous. I would be, too, if our roles were reversed. This situation was far from ideal, but I was born into an abnormal world, so I should be used to it. Still, every part of me wondered if I’d had done something, committed some crime in another life that had doomed my future, and complications were just part of my life now.

He looked at me and smiled.

“What?” I asked, confused by his amusement. This situation, my life, was no laughing matter.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you so intense.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “He doesn’t want you?”

“I told you already, no. He said we could date whom we want and do what we want. The show is really for his parents. I mean, everyone else has to believe we’re dating, too, but it is only temporary. A month after we’re married, we’ll file for divorce.” I grimaced at how ridiculous that had sounded. Using marriage and divorce in the same sentence should be banned.

He placed his hand over mine on the table, startling me, as he leaned in. “I don’t like your arrangement, and I can’t tell you where this, where us, is going,” he said, looking at his hand on top of mine, “but if this is what you have to do, then it’s what you have to do. I believe you when you say nothing is going on between you. Still, this situation is just plain weird. You know what I mean?”

I nodded in agreement as I bit my lower lip. My whole life fell in the bucket of weirdness.

“I haven’t met anyone that I was this into. I like you, Beth, and I want to see where this goes. Maybe we should take it slow until this arrangement is over,” he said. “Even if it looks, sounds, and seems crazy.”

I looked down at his hand on top of mine, thinking he was seriously a godsend. “I’m glad,” I said softly as the tension in my shoulders finally relaxed.

He chuckled with amusement.

“What’s so funny?” I looked up at him.

“You’re cute when you’re serious. That pouty lip of yours is irresistible. I’ve never seen you like this before.”

“I guess that means we’ve moved up to stage two of dating.” I placed both of my hands in his.

“One month?” he asked.

I nodded at his adorable face. He leaned in for a kiss, and I gave him a peck on the lips.

“So, what else does this movement to stage two entail?”

His look was devilish, and I laughed at the look he shot me.

“You’ll find out after we leave.” I gave him a longer kiss on the lips, reveling in their softness.

He pulled back to look at me. “How do I get to stage three?”

“Don’t push your luck,” I whispered.

“Okay, I was just asking,” Brian said, playing innocent. He pulled his wallet from his back pocket. “Drinks are done,” he said, raising his hand to our waiter. “Check please.”

It was a typical evening in Barrington as Kent and I sat on opposite ends of the couch. A week had passed and we were coming to his parents’ house almost every other day. We were watching TV while we waited for his parents to come home. As soon as we heard the front door open, Kent startled me by grabbing my hand, jerking me forward, and pulling me onto his lap. I laughed, hit him, and moved away, but he gripped my wrist and pulled me back.

“Get over here,” he said as both dimples appeared.

“Stop,” I said playfully, shoving his hands away.

I tried to maneuver away from his grasp, but he linked his arms around my waist, pulling me to sit on his lap. I pinched his hands to release me, and he just laughed it off while using a strong hold to draw me closer against him. I couldn’t help the laughter that escaped my lips as I tried to break from his tight grasp. Amusement crossed his face as he used all his might to keep me still. I wiggled in his hold while pinching his wrists.

“You think you’re funny,” he said, whispering in my ear.

“Very,” I replied, leaning forward to bite him to let go of me.

His chest moved up and down in laughter as he gripped me tight, while he moved his arms lower, so I couldn’t get a good direct bite. When his parents strolled into the family room, I stilled and pushed myself off of Kent’s lap. My cheeks warmed from embarrassment as if we had been caught doing something inappropriate.

“Hi, Mrs. Plack. Mr. Plack,” I greeted, briefly looking at each of them.

A beaming grin appeared on Mrs. Plack’s face. “Call me Karen. And Beth, I’m glad to see you again. You guys are too cute.” Her eyes lit up as she headed toward the kitchen, tugging Mr. Plack behind her. “We’re having steak today,” she called from the hallway.

Mr. Plack chuckled softly, also entertained by our show of affection.

“You!” I scolded, pointing my finger at Kent.

He nipped at my finger, pretending to bite it, and I pulled my hand back, laughing.

Dinner was exceptional. I learned that even though they had help, Mrs. Plack cooked dinner most nights unless she had a late-night charity function. We continued to sit at the table as Mrs. Plack talked about Kent’s childhood. By the end of dinner, she had the whole table laughing.

“Jack, do you remember when Kent ate dog food?” Tears from hysteria formed in her eyes as she recalled the story.

“It was a dare, and for your information, I won a dollar,” Kent said, feigning boredom. He tried not to smile but failed.

“You’ll do anything for money,” I said, joining in.

He swiftly kicked me under the table and his eyes widened when I kicked him back even harder.

“Tell me, Kent, what did it taste like? What was the brand, Kibbles ’n Bits?” I asked, playfully poking at his side.

Everyone erupted into laughter.

“Funny girl.” He gave me a sly smile as he pinched my leg under the table.

The conversation continued with Mrs. Plack reminiscing about Kent’s high school years. I chimed in with snide comments every once in a while. Most of the time, Mrs. Plack and I were hysterical with laughter from making fun of Kent. The men, not even close to our level of giddiness, looked at us in amusement.

Mrs. Plack rubbed her eyes. “Sorry, there are only a few times when I get to relive Kent’s younger years. So, Jack, how was work?” She laughed at herself for trying to change the subject into a more serious conversation.

I reached for my glass of water and took a sip as I attempted to compose myself.

Mr. Plack filled us in on Plack Industries and their overseas operations. I watched as Mrs. Plack looked to her husband in approval. Her eyes never strayed from his and he drowned in her attention.

She cracked a joke about him being too serious at work, and his eyes lit up. When she spoke to him, she leaned in, and her hand rested lightly on his arm. It was as if they were the only two in the room, and I was in awe of their marriage. I studied their relationship in silence and wondered if I’d have that one day. Resting my hand on my chin, I gazed at them, soaking in their interaction. I didn’t even realize that I was smiling.

In my peripheral vision, I noticed Kent observing me as I was studying his parents. I gave him a what look, and he lightly placed his hand on top of mine as it rested on the table. He began massaging my hand, making circles with his thumb. My hand tingled where he touched, but I didn’t pull away. I glanced back to his parents to pay attention to their discussion.

We had been so engrossed in our conversations during dinner that I didn’t feel the time passing by. When we got up to leave, I peered down at my watch and noticed it was already ten in the evening. At the door, Mrs. Plack engulfed me in a big hug, and this time, Mr. Plack surprised me by doing the same.

At the dinner table, I’d felt like myself. I’d been comfortable and at ease. At times throughout the evening, I’d forgotten that it was all for show, but Mrs. Plack’s warm embrace had brought me back to reality. I had to remind myself that my time with this family was not permanent, and it would end. That was the part that saddened me most.

On the car ride home, I stared out my window, watching the cars on the interstate. The night with his family had reminded me how much I missed my Nana.

Our dinner table had always been filled with joy and laughter, so much so that I would frequently forget that I didn’t have a biological mother or father around. Nana had always filled that void, that spot they had abandoned. I missed her so much that my heart physically ached for that family bond. It had always been me, Nana, and Kendy. Now, Nana was gone, and because of Kendy’s work schedule, I hardly ever heard from her. As a woman, I needed, wanted, and craved that family connection.

Kent broke me from my thoughts. “You know, our conversations at dinner usually consist of my father talking about Plack Industries, so you can imagine how boring dinners are. You brought laughter to the table tonight,” he said, glancing back at me and then to the road ahead. “You and Mother were bantering back and forth like you two were in your own little happy world. You’re a lot like her,” he said wistfully. “You’re genuine and fun-loving, and you bring laughter wherever you go. Mother is just like that. That’s why she spends a lot of time at St. Jude’s and nursing homes. It’s no wonder Brian has fallen for you. It’s because you’re so easy to love,” he said.

I lifted an eyebrow, giving him a sly smile. “Kent, I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” I was touched by his sentiment.

When we reached my apartment, Kent escorted me to the door. He gave me the longest lingering embrace. “Beth, thanks for spending time with me and my family and for making dinner enjoyable.”

His hugs were always safe and comforting, but this time, it felt different as his hand lingered on the small of my back.

I was the first to disentangle from the embrace. “Anytime. I love your family,” I said, glancing up at his face.

When I walked into the apartment building, I still felt his eyes on me as the glass door shut behind me.

Kent picked me up from work, and we drove to his parents’ house.

We were plopped on the brown leather couch waiting for his parents to come home from a charity event, as we had done two nights before and two nights before that.

I wondered if his parents’ found it odd that Kent was stopping by more often. When I confronted Kent about it, he’d said that his mother was just happy that he came around and that his father probably thought that he gave up his partying ways for me. Either way, according to Kent, they seemed happier to have us around regularly.

As Kent watched the news, I yawned, stretched, and got up to walk around the study.

Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves were stocked with books. I ran my hand against the cherry wood desk and picked up a framed picture of a little boy. He was unrecognizable, but it could only be one person. The chubby boy had glasses, a mouth lined with braces, and looked no more than twelve years old. I squinted as I held the picture frame closer to my face. When I looked in Kent’s direction, I started to giggle.

Hearing laughter, he turned in my direction. “What’s so funny?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at what I was holding.

“Is this you? This nerdy-looking guy?” I laughed, tapping the frame.

He pushed himself off the couch and walked toward me. I showed him the picture, and he tried to reach for it. Raising the frame above my head, I ran to the other side of the room.

“Not funny. Give it to me,” he commanded, stalking toward me.

“Make me.” I stuck out my tongue and waved the picture frame in front of him to taunt him. “Wow, this doesn’t even look like you. Who knew you were such a nerd?”

“Beth…” His tone sounded like a parent scolding a child.

I studied the picture again and started to laugh. “You rock glasses pretty well. You should totally bring them back.”

He lunged toward me, and I squealed as I propelled myself toward the opposite end of the room. I shook the picture frame in front of me again.

At my immature gesture, a dimple hit his face. “Is this a challenge? Because if it is, just so you know, I always win.”

“I want to see you try.”

I widened my eyes to mock him, and he shook his head as a mischievous smile slowly crept up his face. He dashed in my direction, but I swerved toward the other side of the room. Kent’s stance changed, and he propelled himself forward once again as I moved by the couch. He closed in with a slight smirk on his face, like he was going to win. Determined, I veered right, but I was too slow as he grabbed me by the waist. In a football-like tackle, he pushed me onto the couch.

“No!” I clutched the picture frame to my chest with all my might.

“Give it back.”

He was on top of me and had me trapped between his knees. I tried to buck him off, but he was too heavy.

“Give it here,” he commanded with a boyish smile.

“No!” My hair was splayed all over the couch, and I blew my bangs out of my face, catching his amused look.

A slow, conniving smile encompassed his face. “Fine.” His fingers started to torture me as he began tickling my sides.

“Stop!” I squealed.

I tried to buck him off me again, but failed as his fingers accelerated in their torture. I was laughing so much that I was almost crying.

“Give me the frame,” he said as both dimples emerged. “You don’t want to give it to me?”

“Never!” Instead of using my hands to protect myself from his torment, I continued to clutch the picture frame against my chest.

“Okay then.”

His knees tightened on my sides, so I could barely move, and he went in for the kill. He tickled me with full force, causing me to laugh so loud that no sound left my lips, only hoarse huffs.

“Please…st-st-stop.” I could barely form words while I was dying of tickle pains from his evil hands.

“You never listen to directions, do you?” Kent leaned in with a smile on his face.

His hands continued to torment me. My cheeks hurt from laughing, and my eyes were shut in torture.

I felt his hands slow down and still to a stop. When I opened my eyes, Kent was a few inches from my face. His eyes bore into mine, and I stopped breathing. Stopped. Breathing. Temporarily, he looked lost, but he was still breathtakingly beautiful.

The air shifted around us, and suddenly, my every nerve was aware of his whole body on top of me. His one hand on my arm, his chest was flush against mine, his knees were on either side of my legs, and his lingering touch was on the side of my face. His scent filled my nose, and for once, I felt an undeniable urge to close the gap between us to meet his lips.

We both turned when his parents entered the room.

I blushed at the position they’d caught us in—me lying on the couch while Kent hovered above me, trapping me between his knees.

Mrs. Plack had a small smile on her lips “Oh, please don’t let us interrupt you.” She tugged Mr. Plack’s arm and pulled him toward the kitchen.

Kent immediately stood, and he reached for my hand to pull me up into a sitting position.

“Excuse me.” He didn’t meet my eyes as he turned and exited the room.

I had a strong awareness of my heart beating loudly in my chest. I placed my hand on my cheek to stop the tingling from Kent’s touch that was still present even though he was no longer here.

What’s happening?

After a few minutes, I searched for Kent. I found him sitting in the billiard room. His thumb and pointer finger pinched the bridge of his nose. From his side profile, I noticed every feature —from his straight nose to his chiseled jaw line to his full lips. I waited and listened to him taking deep breaths in through his nose and out his mouth. His brow was furrowed in concentration. He didn’t even know I was standing there, so I knocked on the wall beside me. His head shot up to my direction, and his eyes locked with mine. He seemed so lost, and all I wanted to do in that instant was to console him.

I walked toward him until I was a few inches away. “What’s the matter?” I asked, placing my hand on his shoulder. “Were you teased as a kid?” I whispered.

He glanced at my hand touching his shoulder. “No,” he said as he placed his hand on top of mine. A feeling of warmth flooded where we were connected. “Never.” He shook his head slightly. “Sometimes, I’m sure of myself, and other times, I’m not,” he said, mostly speaking to himself.

We stared at each other as an uncomfortable silence built in the air between us.

I realized I still had the picture in my other hand. “If it’s not that, then I’m the winner,” I said, breaking the awkward silence.

I gave him a cheeky grin as his eyes focused on the frame in my hands. “Yes, I was a bit chubby in my younger years, but kids were afraid to make fun of me because they knew I’d beat the living shit out of them,” he said.

“Or eat them.” I giggled.

When I was momentarily distracted, he snatched the picture frame from me and shrugged.

“Not fair.” I pouted.

He studied my face with seriousness in his eyes. It was a look that I’d never seen before.

He glanced to my hand before reaching for it. “Come on, let’s join my parents for dinner.”

We entwined our hands as he led me into the dining room, and I wondered if he could feel the electricity that I felt from where we were connected.